Printing press feed mechanism

ABSTRACT

A printing press feed mechanism is provided which includes a suction feed device and a tiltable feed table capable of supporting envelopes, sheets and the like at an adjustable angle relative to the feed device to compensate for envelopes of various degrees of stiffness. An auxiliary feed hopper is provided for feeding smaller and more flexible envelopes and the like. An auxiliary suction feed device engages the front surface of the envelope to be printed, and inverts it so that the front surface is uppermost in conveying it to the printing press.

United States Patent 1191 Paulson PRINTING PRESS FEED MECHANISM [76] Inventor: Harold E. Paulson, 5369 Vernon Lake Dr., Dunwoody, Ga.

22 Filed: June23, 1972 21 App1.No.:265,546

[52] US. Cl 271/100, 198/173, 198/176, 271/9, 271/12, 271/106, 271/108 [51] Int. Cl B6511 3/10, B65h 3/44, B65h 5/16 [58] Field of Search 271/29, 27, 5, 9, 11, 12, 271/13, 28, 50, 96, 99, 100, 106, 107, 108; 198/173, 28, 170, 176

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,927 12/1941 Wale 271/13 2,603,483 7/1952 Fischer et al. 271/9 2,815,207 12/1957 Skow 271/29 3,325,977 6/1967 Kirsten 198/173 X 3,423,084 1/1969 Konazewski 271/29 11] 3,834,691 1451 Sept. 10,1974

3,646,858 3/1972 Helm 271/50 X 3,655,181 4/1972 Paulson 271/29 3,682,470 8/1972 Takagi et a1. 271/27 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-James W. Miller [5 7] ABSTRACT A printing press feed mechanism is provided which includes a suction feed device and a tiltable feed table capable of supporting envelopes, sheets and the like at an adjustable angle relative to the feed device to compensate for envelopes of various degrees of stiffness. An auxiliary feed hopper is provided for feeding smaller and more flexible envelop-es and the like. An auxiliary suction feed device engages the front surface of the envelope to be printed, and inverts it so that the front surface is uppermost in conveying it to the printing press.

11 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PAIENTEB SEP 1 01914 SHEEY 1 BF 7 PAIENIED SEP 1 01974 SHEET 2 0F 7 Q Q @N V xx 3 Km ww @m hm sh QM Qw x F Q 2 R rQNi F E WW M m IMIIFII PAIENTED SEP 1 01974 sum u BF 7 PRINTING PRESS FEED MECHANISM This invention relates to an improvement to feed mechanisms and deals particularly with an apparatus for taking items such as envelopes or the like from a stack or hopper and delivering them to a printing press.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous printing machines have been produced for removing flexible sheets or items such as envelopes one at a time from the hopper, and advancing them to the printing portion of a printing press. For example, the patent to Halahan et al. issued Nov. 13, 1956, entitled Paper Feeder discloses a suction feed apparatus capable of withdrawing one envelope at a time from a hopper and deliverying it to feed rollers which guide the envelopes to a suitable conveyor. The suction feed is designed to oscillate and to deliver the envelopes in overlapping relation to the take off mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,209 issued Mar. 15, 1955 to I-Ialahan et al. discloses a different type of device for accomplishing the same results. In my previously filed application Ser. No. 68,819 filed Sept. 2, 1970 for Printing Press Feeder I have disclosed another mechanism for removing envelopes one at a time from a stack or hopper and delivering the envelopes in spaced relation to the print ing apparatus. Another form of printing press feeder was shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,655,181 issued Apr. 11, 1972. This also embodied a suction cylinder.

While a great number of structures of this type have been proven to function effectively, they are all subject to certain difficulties. If the suction exerted by the take off mechanism is excessive, or if it functions at the wrong period of oscillation, there is a tendency for the feed mechanism to double feed, or attempt to feed two envelopes in place of one. Furthermore, much of the feed efficiency depends upon the flexibility of the envelope. Narrow, thin envelopes are relatively flexible and can readily flex about a small diameter suction cylinder. On the other hand, larger and more rigid envelopes cannot flex at the same radius of curvature as the smaller more flexible ones. As a result, it has been difficult to provide a feed apparatus for a press which will function effectively for envelopes or sheets of varying thickness and flexibility.

In certain devices of the prior art, the suction exerted upon the sheets or envelopes by an oscillating suction cylinder has created a retarding action on the envelope as it oscillates in a reverse direction. In other words, the feed rollers are moving in one direction while the suction cylinder is moving in the opposite direction. This sometimes has an adverse effect upon the feeding operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a printing press feeding mechanism which obviates many of the difficulties which have been experienced in other printing presses of this general type. It should be understood that while the term envelope is used as the product being printed, the press may be used for other blanks or sheets of material having somewhat similar characteristics.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a printing press feeding mechanism which includes a feed table. This feed table is pivotally supported for oscillating motion about the axis of the suction cylinder. A feed hopper is supported by the table and is supported for movement in conjunction therewith. As a result, when the feed table is pivoted about the axis of the suction cylinder, the point at which the suction ports of the suction cylinder may grasp the sheet or be moved into proximity therewith may be varied. Stated otherwise, the suction ports of the suction cylinder oscillate between two extreme positions. The suction ports are beneath the stack of envelopes in the hopper in one extreme position. However, by tilting the feed table and hopper, the time at which the suction ports reach a position beneath the envelopes may be varied, so that by merely tilting the feed table and hopper, the time at which the suction ports engage the envelope may be varied.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an auxiliary hopper attached to the main hopper and designed to accommodate envelopes which are more flexible than those which are normally accommodated in the main hopper. An auxiliary suction cylinder means is provided for feeding the envelopes from the auxiliary hopper. This auxiliary suction cylinder is of relatively small diameter compared to the main suction cylinder and accordingly may feed the more flexible envelopes by quickly drawing them away from the stack in the hopper, and moving them about a relatively short radius. As a result, the tendency for the envelopes to double feed is greatly reduced. With this device, the suction ports engage the front of enve' lopes rather than the rear flap side.

A feature of the present invention resides in a con struction in which a main suction cylinder is provided which is capable of drawing an envelope from a hopper by engagement with the flap side thereof, and in which a second or auxiliary suction is provided which engages the front side of the envelope which is opposite to that engaged by the main suction cylinder. The main suction cylinder bends the envelope at a relatively slight angle to deliver it to a feed table. An auxiliary hopper is supported above the auxiliary suction cylinder in place of the main suction cylinder. When this is done, the auxiliary suction cylinder is connected to a means for oscillating it so that instead of rolling at the same speed as the rollers flanking the main suction roller, it oscillates to draw the lowermost envelope between the auxiliary suction roller and a pressure roller to a position between the auxiliary suction cylinder and the main suction cylinder which is now not subjected to suction, delivering the envelopes from the auxiliary hopper to the skid plate over which the envelopes are carried by a conveyor.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a conveyor including register or pusher lugs of an unusual type which prevents the flexing of the portions of a chain forwardly of the lug and accordingly maintains firm contact with the envelope being fed. These register lugs also have the function of remaining in envelope feeding position after the supporting chain starts its circuit about the feed chain sprocket so as to insure the proper delivery of the envelope to the printing press portion of the apparatus.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a novel means by which one of two feed chains may be advanced or retarded relative to the other to compen sate for irregularities in the shape of the training edges of the envelopes or other sheets or blanks being transferred. A sprocket on a drive shaft is connected by a first feed chain to a first sprocket keyed to a parallel shaft. A second sprocket is keyed to the parallel shaft and is connected by the second feed chain freely rotatable on the drive shaft. The second sprocket on the parallel shaft is angularly adjustable relative to the parallel shaft. Thus one feed chain may be advanced or retarded relative to the other to advance or retard the drive lugs thereon. These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the feed mechanism showing the general arrangement of parts.

FIG. 2 is a diagramatic view showing the drive mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagramatic view showing the drive mechanism laid out on a single plane for simplicity of description.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the main suction cylinder and cooperable pressure cylinder.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through a portion of the suction cylinder, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is another sectional view through the suction cylinder, the position of the section being indicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of the feed mechanism, showing the feed table in a tilted position.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the feed table.

FIG. 9 is a perspective detail of a portion of the feed hopper.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a portion of the feed hopper in position to feed relatively small envelopes or sheets.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagramatic view showing the conveyor for conveying objects to the printing machine.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a portion of the feed chain illustrated in FIG. 12, and showing one of the pusher lugs.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the pusher lugs.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view through a pusher lug, the position of the section being indicated by the line 1515 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the envelope delivery apparatus.

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one of the pusher links.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the auxiliary suction unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present feeding device is designed for use in combination with a printing press, and is shown in combination with an offset press. In view of the fact that these presses are well known in the art, the press is not shown in detail. In FIG. 1, a plate cylinder 10 is shown together with a blanket cylinder 11 and impression cylinder 12. Quite obviously, the feeding mechanism could be used with presses of a different type.

The feeding device includes a frame 13 which is designed to support a series of shafts. These shafts extend transversely of the frame or parallel to the axes of the press cylinders. As diagramatically illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a motor 14 is connected by suitable chain 15 to a sprocket 16 on a power shaft 17. Cooperable gears 19 and 20 on the power shaft and on a cam shaft 21 drive the cam shaft and also function through a gear 22 and an idler gear 23 to drive a lower feed roller 24.

FIG. 3 of the drawings is not a true view, but is designed to indicate diagramatically the manner in which the feeding unit is operated. As indicated, the power shaft 17 includes an adjustable gear 19 which may be rotatably adjusted in its engagement with the gear 20 on the cam shaft 21. Before describing the details of the drive, it is desirable to understand that the power shaft 17 drives feed chains 25 and 25 which are perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 15 of the drawings. The power shaft 17 also acts through chains 26 to rotate feed drums rotatably supported upon the main suction drum shaft 27, and which are indicated in general by the numeral 29. The main power shaft 17 also acts through the cam shaft 21 to oscillate the suction drum shaft 27 as will be described more in detail.

Referring back to FIG. 3, it will be noted that a sprocket 30 is mounted near each end of the power shaft 17, and is connected by a chain 26 to a cooperable sprocket 32 located at the outer end at each of the drums 29. As will be noted, the drums 29 are supported upon bearings 33 and 34 mounted upon the shaft 27. The purpose of this arrangement is to drive the drums 29 continuously during the operation of the press in order to feed sheets to the conveyor chains 25 and 25.

Means are also provided for driving the conveyor chain 25. As indicated in the diagramatic drawing of FIG. 3, a tapered hub 35 is secured to the power shaft 17, and a sprocket member 36 which is wedged onto the hub 35 acts to drive the conveyor chain 25. The chain 25 extends over a counter shaft 37 to which is keyed another tapered hub 39 on which is wedged a sprocket 40. Rotation of the power shaft 17 thus acts to drive the countershaft 37. A second hub 41 is keyed to the countershaft 37, and supports a sprocket 42 which is held in place by a clamping ring 43. This sprocket 42 drives the conveyor chain 25'. A sprocket 44 is rotatably supported on a bearing 45 on the power shaft 17. With this arrangement, the position of the chain 25 may be adjusted relative to the position of the chain 25. As will be later described, the envelopes or sheets of material which are being printed are moved by pusher lugs on the chains 25 and 25', and the relative adjustment of one chain relative to the other permits the pusher lugs to engage envelopes or sheets which are provided with irregular or offset trailing edges.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, a cam 46 is mounted on the cam shaft 21 which is continuously driven by the drive shaft 17. A bell crank lever 47 is pivotally supported upon a pivot 49, and one end of the bell crank lever supports a cam roller 50 which rides in the cam groove 51 of the cam 46. The other end 52 of the bell crank lever 47 is pivotally connected at 53 to an adjustable length link 54. The

other end of the link 54 is pivotally connected at 55 to a lever arm 56 mounted upon the shaft 27. The arrangement is such that rotation of the cam 46 oscillates the bell crank lever 47 and acts through the link 54 to oscillate the shaft 27. As will be described, the oscillation of the shaft 27 acts through the main suction drum members to remove sheats or envelopes supported upon the feed table.

The feed table is shown in side elevation in FIGS. 1 and 7 of the drawings, and is shown in plan in FIG. 8. In general, the feed table is identified by the numeral 59 and acts as a support for the envelopes or sheets being printed. The feed table 59 includes a top plane 60 supported by side plates 61 which are in parallel relation and which are provided with upwardly extending standards 62 at the outlet end. The standards 62 support a metering plate 63 or metering strips which are slightly forwardly curved at their lower ends as indicated at 64 to allow one sheet or envelope at a time to pass beneath the member 63 and over the drums 29. The members 63 also form the forward end of the hopper into which the sheets or envelopes are placed prior to the feeding operation.

The top plate 60 of the feed table 59 is provided with a series of downwardly projecting transversely spaced lugs 65 which support transversely extending shafts 66.

Rollers 67 are slideably supported on the shafts 66, and extend through transverse slots 69 in the table top 60. The slots 69 extend above the shaft 66 so that the tops of the rollers 67 extend slightly above the surface of the feed table. In this way, the envelopesA or other sheets of material slide freely toward the feed table outlet.

The table 59 is pivotally supported on the shaft 21 so that the feed table may be tiltably supported as indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Adjustment rods 70 are pivotally supported to the feed table sides 61 as indicated at 71. The members 70 are slotted as indicated at 72, and adjustment bolts 73 extend through the slots 72 and into the frame 13 to hold the feed table at a de sired angle.

The rear hopper guides are indicated in general by the numeral 74. As indicated in section in FIG. 9 of the drawings, these rear guides 74 comprise angle members including right angular flanges 75 provided at their opposite ends with short inwardly extending flanges 76. The lower ends of the guide 74 may be provided with envelope supports 77 which may be used to elevate the rear corners of the envelopes in the hopper. The members 77 may comprise rounded plates 79 having threaded shanks 80 which extend through vertical slots 01 in one of the angular sides of each member 74. Enlargements 82 are provided on the shanks to engage the inner surface of the member 75, while wing nuts 83 may engage the threaded shanks 80 to hold the member 77 in an adjusted position. This arrangement simplifies the feeding of the sheets A, particularly when the feed plate is supported in the tilted position shown in FIG. 7.

As indicated in FIG. 8, the rear hopper guides 74 are held in adjusted position by short arms 84 which are adjustably pivoted at 85 to slotted arms 86. Thumb screws 87 extend through the slots 89 in the arms 86 and clamp the slotted arms in position upon the table. The threaded shank of the thumb screws 87 extend into threaded apertures 90 in the table top 60, and there is a sufficient number of these apertures 90 to accommodate the arms 86 in a considerable number of positions.

The pivots 85 are designed to frictionally connect the arms 84 with the arms 86 to hold the guides 74 in a selected position.

With reference now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that hubs 91 are connected to the inner end walls of the drums 29, and connect the drums with a pair of discs 92. Between the two discs 92 are included the suction members which are designed to draw the lowermost envelope or sheet from the stack in the hopper to advance the sheet. The outermost two of the three suction members are indicated at 93 while the inner member is indicated at 94. In explanation, the inner member 94 serves as a suction or vacuum manifold, and is connected to a suitable source of vacuum supply. The outer of the members 93 include the vacuum openings 95 through which the vacuum is communicated to the sheets. The outer two vacuum members 93 are clamped to the oscillating shaft 27 to oscillate in conjunction therewith. The inner member 94 or suction manifold 94 is free to rotate relative to the outer members 93 but pivotal movement of the suction manifold is restricted. The three members are urged into face contact by suitable spring washers 96.

As indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, suction manifold 94 includes an arcuate outer surface 97 and parallel sides 99, each of which includes angularly elongated slots or pockets 100. A vacuum passage 101 communicates with both of the pockets 100, and the passage 101' communicates with a pipe 102 leading to a vacuum supply pipe 103. The vacuum manifold 94 is arcuately notched as indicated at 104 to accommodate the shaft 27. A clamping plate 105 which is provided with a substantially semi-cylindrical notch 106 is in opposed relation to the member 94 and acts to clamp the member 94 in place through the use of clamping bolts 107. The bolts 107 are providedwith threaded extensions 109 which support an arm 110. The arm 110 includes a set I screw 111 which is engageable with a cross member 112 on the frame of the feed table, the arm 110 having an angularly extending end 113 through which the set screw extends. A fixed bracket 108 on the frame limits the pivotal movement of the arm 110 in a counterclockwise direction. The pivotal movement of the suction manifold is confined within these limits.

One of the oscillating suction members 93 is shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The two members 93 are similar but in opposed relation to receive suction from the member 94. Each suction member 93 includes a generally semi-cylindrical member 115 having a concentric semi-cylindrical groove 116 to accommodate the shaft 27. A clamping plate 117 includes a cooperable generally semi-cylindrical notch 119 and is clamped to the semi-cylindrical member 115 by bolts 120. Obviously, the position of the members 93 may be angularly adjusted.

The suction openings 95 as indicated in the sectioned views illustrated, the suction openings 95 extend beneath the forward end of the foremost envelope and tend to pull the forward end of the envelope against the arcuate surface of the member 115. Upon oscillation of the member 93 in a clockwise direction, the envelopes are pulled downwardly to a position between the discs 92 and rollers 122 mounted on a parallel shaft 123 mounted in bearings 124 (see FIG. 4) located in pivotal arms 125 secured to the hopper side members 62 by bolts 126. The rollers 122 are not positively driven, but rotate constantly due to frictional contact with the disc 92 or with the envelopes passing between the discs 92 and the rollers 122.

In the operation of this portion of the apparatus, the suction drums are oscillated with the shaft 27 until the communicating passages 121 in the inner sides of the semi-cylindrical members 115 move out of communication with the pockets 100 in the central suction manifold 94. Further oscillation of the suction drums 93 cuts off the suction from the openings 95. This increases the friction between the oscillating members 93 and the intermediate suction manifold 94 and tendsto swing the end 113 of the arm 110 and set screw 111 upwardly against the cross member 112. The reverse oscillation of the members 93 swings the end 113 of the arm 110 back down against the fixed bracket 108. This arrangement increases the length of time the suction is cut off from the envelope and permits the envelopes to be firmly engaged by the drive discs 92 and drums 29 to prevent the reverse oscillation of the suction drums from adversely affecting the movement of the envelopes. As indicated in FIG. 1, the cam 46 is also shaped to provide somewhat of a dwell time between forward and reverse oscillations of the shaft 27.

As indicated in FIG. of the drawings, the arcuate outer surface of the sections 115 of the suction drums 93 are provided with generally flat areas 130 which adjoin the suction openings 95. The purpose of .this arrangement is to permit the forward ends of the envelopes A to lie flat against the suction members 93 when the feed table is in its tilted position shown in FIG. 7. When the envelopes or sheets being fed are relatively stiff or heavy, the feed table is usually in substantially horizontal position. However, when envelopes of very light weight or flexible paper is being fed, the feed table is tilted and the leading edges of the envelopes lie across these flatened areas 130 for engagement with the suction drums when the vacuum holes 95 are oscillated beneath the envelopes. In other words, there is somewhat sharper break or turn in the paper when the feed table is tilted due to the flat areas 130.

With particular reference to FIG. of the drawings, an auxiliary hopper including a pair of vertical members 63, the feed table 132 and the hopper guide 133 may be used in conjunction with the apparatus which has been described. In this case, and when it is desired to use the apparatus for feeding small thin flexible envelopes or the like, the rollers 122 and shaft 123 are removed and replaced by a auxiliary feed unit 134. As will be described, this auxiliary feed unit may be used to take the place of main suction cylinder unit. One convenient way of accomplishing this result, is to remove the bolts 126 (FIG. 4) holding the arms 125 to the uprights 62, and removing these arms 125, the shaft 123 and the rollers 122. Obviously, the individual shaft and its rollers 123 may be removed and replaced with the auxiliary suction cylinder shaft and the guide roller.

However, for the purpose of simplicity, I may desire to remove the arms and the structure supported thereby, and to substitute it for the unit diagramatically illustrated in FIG. 19 of the drawings.

In this arrangement, arms 135 are provided which may or may not be the arms 125, and a shaft 136 may be substituted for the shaft 123 previously described. The auxiliary suction unit comprises a structure which is quite similar to that previously described. In other words, it includes a central suction manifold 137 which is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 136, and a pair of suction drums 139 on opposite sides of the central suction manifold 137 to oscillate with the shaft 136. A crank arm 138 is mounted upon the shaft 136 exteriorally of the frame uprights 62 of the apparatus. The suction apparatus 134 is very similar to that shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. In other words, the center suction supply manifold 137 is provided with a suction inlet connection 140 which is connected internally to grooves or pockets 141 on opposite sides of its surface. As also indicated, the suction drums 139 are provided with peripheral slots 142 which communicate through ports 143 to the pockets 141 in the surfaces of suction member 137 which is in frictional contact with the surfaces of the drums 139. In view of the fact that the structure is almost identical to that previously shown and described, a detailed explanation is believed unnecessary. Actually, the term suction drums may be somewhat misleading in view of the fact that these members are not cylindrical as has been described but have partially cylindrical surfaces which are clamped to the supporting shaft.

When the auxiliary hopper is used, an adjustable link 144 connects a pivot point 145 on the lever arm 56 to a pivot point 147 on the crank arm 138 mounted upon the shaft 136. As a result, the cam 46 acts through the bell crank lever 47, the adjustable link 54 to oscillate the lever arm 56 and to act through the link 144 to oscillate the lever arm 138.

Oscillation of the shaft 136 in a clockwise position causes the suction ports 142 to move beneath the forward edge of the stack of envelopes C, and to flex the leading edge of the lowermost envelope downwardly against the suction drum. Oscillation of the shaft 136 in a counter-clockwise direction, causes the leading edge of the lowermost envelope to be drawn between the suction drums 139 and pressure rollers rotatably supported on aligned axes by the metering strips 63. This guides the forward edges of the envelopes between the freely rotatable rollers 148 adjoining the auxiliary suction cylinders 139 and the disc or drums 92 on the parallel shaft 27. In view of the fact that the discs 92 are in constant rotation, the envelopes are guided to the delivery mechanism in the manner which has been previously described. The pressure rollers 150 are rotated by contact with the rollers 148, or with the envelopes passing between the rollers 148 and 150.

The auxiliary feed roller has the advantage of engaging the envelope C while the flaps are uppermost. In other words, the main suction unit engages the flap side of the envelope, while the auxiliary suction cylinder engages the face or front side of the envelope and draws it around into inverted position with the face of the envelopes uppermost.

The suction unit which was previously described functions in much the same manner as the auxiliary suction unit 134. The shaft 136 is oscillated in the manner described, and the transverse passages 143 communicate with vacuum as long as these ports 143 are in connection with the arcuate slots or pockets 141 in the member 137. An arm 151 is bolted as indicated at 152 or is otherwise secured to the suction member 137. The angularly turned end 153 of the arm 151 is provided with a set screw 154 which engages the feed plate 132 of the auxiliary hopper after the ports 143 have moved out of contact with the arcuate slots 141 due to friction between the members. The movement of the arm 153 is limited by the set screw 154, and the arm 151 is held from reverse rotation beyond certain limits by a lip 155 on the underside of the feed table 132. In other words, suction cylinders work much in the same manner as the main suction cylinders when the auxiliary feed unit is in operation.

Means are provided for guiding the envelopes as they leave the suction feed and are carried by the conveyor chains 25 and 25 to the printing press. Upwardly extending side plates 160 (FIG. 1) extend upwardly from the frame 13 on opposite sides of the skid plate onto which the envelopes are propelled by the conveyor chains 25 and 25. A pair of side guide supports 161 (see FIG. 17) are slideably supported upon a horizontal fixed shaft 162, the side guides supports 161 including the collars 163 which are slideable longitudinally on the shaft 162. The sliding movement of the sleeves or bearings 163 is controlled by a right and left hand threaded shaft 164 which is similarly supported by side supports 160 and operated by a suitable knob 165 or the like. The side guide supports 161 are supported from rotative movement by a suitable block or frame member 166 which is supported between the sides of the frame 13. Grooves 167 in the block 166 slideably supports pins 169 to permit sliding of the side guides toward or away from one another within suitable limits.

Side guides 170 are supported by brackets 171 mounted upon the side guide supports 161. The side guides may be adjusted in position by the shaft or screw 164. However, generally L-shaped auxiliary guides are mounted upon the side guide supports 161 on pivots, the angular guides being indicated by the numeral 172, and the pivots axes being indicated at 173. Thumb nuts 174 are threaded through generally horizontal portions 175 of the angular brackets to support the generally vertical portions thereof as indicated at 176. Elongated guides 177 are supported at the lower ends of the vertical portions 176, and normally are spaced above the skid plate 179 to hold the envelopes against the skid plate 179. The side edges of the envelopes are normally guided by the guides 170. However, if the envelope is narrower than usual in width, the angle guides 172 may be lowered from the position shown at the left hand side of FIG. 17 to the position shown on the right hand side thereof, thus narowing the width of the path while still controlling the movement of the envelopes.

As will be noted, by threading the right hand screw downwardly, the lower end of the screw engages the bracket 171 and pivots the angular guide 172 upwardly so that the envelopes may pass beneath it. The members 177 actually serve as a means of assisting the control of the envelopes during their passage to the printing press.

Special pusher lugs are also used in guiding the envelopes over the skid plate 179. A pair of spaced plates 180 are provided which take the place of the inner links connecting a pair of link pivots or rollers 18]. An elongated guide bar 182 having a forwardly and downwardly tapered forward end 1831 is attached to the plates by rivets 184 or other suitable means. A pusher plate 185 is slideable longitudinally of the bar 182, and slides between the upper edges 186 of the plates 180 which project slightly above the upper lever of the bar 182. The pusher plate 185 is slotted as indicated at 187, and a bolt 189 is provided extending through the slot 187 and into the bar 182 to hold the pusher plate 185 in an adjusted position. An upward projection 190 at the forward end of the pusher plate extends above the level of the skid plates 179 to engage the trailing edge of an envelope being moved over the skid plate.

A pair of arms 191 are secured to the inner link 192 of the next adjoining pair of pivots 181 and extend on opposite sides of the elongated bar 182. The rear ends of the bars 191 extend outwardly of the plates 180, and the extending ends of the bars 191 extend over the pivots 181, or the outer links 193 to prevent the sagging of the links between which the lug is connected. In view of the fact that the pusher plate 185 is connected to one link of the chain, and the arms 191 are connected to the other link, the area of the chain supporting the pusher lugs unit is incapable of sagging. In other words, if the chain has a tendency to sag into a concave position, the arms 191 engage the next rearmost chain link, and the bar 182 extends over the foremost link to prevent any sag in the chain. However, as the chain starts its movement about the idler pulley 195 at the delivery end of its travel, the link supporting the arms 191 flex into angular relation to the plates 180 supporting the member 185, and these rearward ends of the arms 19] assist in pushing the trailing edge of the envelope from engagement with the shoulder 190. By this time, the forward edge of the envelope is engaged between the lower feed roller 24 and the upper feed roller 197 to drive the envelope into the printing press.

From the foregoing explanation, it should be understood that envelopes of any normal size may be removed from the main hopper by the main suction roller, and delivered to the feed chains which, in turn, deliver them to the printing press. By tilting the feed table, the feed mechanism will compensate for various thicknesses of various envelopes or sheets, the more flexible or thinner sheets being fed while the feed table is in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined angle. Smaller and more flexible envelopes can be fed face side down by the auxiliary feed suction rollers and delivered to the same delivery conveyor. The two drive chains comprising the conveyor may be relatively adjusted to compensate for varying shapes of the trailing edges of the envelopes. The device then guides wider or narrower envelopes to the printing press. At this point the pusher lugs are shaped to rearly discharge themselves from the rear ends of the envelopes being pushed in such a manner as to prevent injury to the envelopes.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my Feed Mechanism for Printing Presses, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A feed mechanism in combination with a feed table for supporting superimposed envelopes and the like, the feed mechanism including:

a shaft,

a suction supply manifold mounted on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto and having parallel sides normal to the shaft axis, said parallel sides having pockets therein connected to a partial vacuum source,

adjusting arm means connected to permit adjustable limited angular movement of the suction supply manifold about said shaft, said adjusting arm means connected to and extending out from said manifold, the end of the arm remote from the manifold constrained between limit members to establish said limited angular movement,

a pair of suction members having sides engaging opposite sides of said suction supply manifold and including generally cylindrical surfaces extending over at least a portion of the peripheries thereof, these surfaces including suction openings communicating with suction ports in the sides of said suction members engaging said suction supply manifold to receive suction therefrom when in communication therewith,

means connected to said shaft to oscillate the shaft and said suction members between two extreme positions, said suction members being oscillated out of communication with said pockets in said suction manifold when approaching one extreme position,

said suction openings being beneath the forward edges of the envelopes on said feed table in its other extreme position,

feed drum means on said shaft on opposite sides of said suction members.

means continuously rotating said feed drum means in a direction to withdraw the envelopes from said feed table, and

cooperable rollers cooperable with said feed drum means to withdraw envelopes from said feed table when removed therefrom by oscillation of said suction members.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said feed table is normally horizontal and including means for tilting said feed table about the axis of said shaft.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said generally cylindrical surfaces of said suction members include generally flat areas just before said suction openings in the adjacent peripheral location underlying the ends of the envolopes when said feed table is in the tilted position.

4. The structure of claim 1 and including conveyor means engageable with envelopes passing between said feed drum means.

5. The structure of claim 4 and in which said conveyor means includes parallel chains including lugs engageable with the trailing edges of the envelopes.

6. The structure of claim 5 and including means for advancing the lugs of one chain relative to the lugs on the other chain.

7. The structure of claim 5 and in which said lugs including lug means connected to one chain link and extending forwardly therefrom to overlie a link forwardly of said one link, said lug means including an upwardly extending pusher lug member, and arm means connected to said chain link forwardly of said one link and swingable upwardly to assist in detaching the envelope from said upwardly extending pusher lug member as said links become angularly related.

8. The structure of claim 1 including an auxiliary hopper having an edge overlying said cooperable rollers and including auxiliary suction members coaxial with said cooperable rollers between said cooperable rollers engageable with envelopes in said auxiliary hopper, and means for oscillating said auxiliary suction members.

9. The structure of claim 8 and including auxiliary pressure rollers engageable with said cooperable rollers.

10. The structure of claim 2 and including adjustable hopper means on said feed table and tiltable therewith.

11. A feed mechanism in combination with a feed table for supporting superimposed envelopes and the like, the feed mechanism including:

a shaft,

a suction supply manifold mounted on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto and having parallel sides normal to the shaft axis, said parallel sides having pockets therein connected to a source of partial vacuum,

means for permitting adjustable limited angular movement of said supply manifold about said shaft over a limited are including an arm member connected to the manifold and extending out from the manifold so as to rotate therewith between limit members;

a pair of suction members having sides engaging opposite sides of said suction supply manifold and including generally cylindrical surfaces extending over at least a portion of their peripheries, these surfaces including suction openings communicating with suction ports in the sides thereof engaging said suction supply manifold,

means for oscillating said suction member about the shaft from one extreme position in which said suction ports are in communication with said pockets to another extreme position where said suction ports are out of communication with said suction ports,

said suction openings, in said one extreme position, being adapted to be beneath the envelopes on said feed table. 

1. A feed mechanism in combination with a feed table for supporting superimposed envelopes and the like, the feed mechanism including: a shaft, a suction supply manifold mounted on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto and having parallel sides normal to the shaft axis, said parallel sides having pockets therein connected to a partial vacuum source, adjusting arm means connected to perMit adjustable limited angular movement of the suction supply manifold about said shaft, said adjusting arm means connected to and extending out from said manifold, the end of the arm remote from the manifold constrained between limit members to establish said limited angular movement, a pair of suction members having sides engaging opposite sides of said suction supply manifold and including generally cylindrical surfaces extending over at least a portion of the peripheries thereof, these surfaces including suction openings communicating with suction ports in the sides of said suction members engaging said suction supply manifold to receive suction therefrom when in communication therewith, means connected to said shaft to oscillate the shaft and said suction members between two extreme positions, said suction members being oscillated out of communication with said pockets in said suction manifold when approaching one extreme position, said suction openings being beneath the forward edges of the envelopes on said feed table in its other extreme position, feed drum means on said shaft on opposite sides of said suction members. means continuously rotating said feed drum means in a direction to withdraw the envelopes from said feed table, and cooperable rollers cooperable with said feed drum means to withdraw envelopes from said feed table when removed therefrom by oscillation of said suction members.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said feed table is normally horizontal and including means for tilting said feed table about the axis of said shaft.
 3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said generally cylindrical surfaces of said suction members include generally flat areas just before said suction openings in the adjacent peripheral location underlying the ends of the envolopes when said feed table is in the tilted position.
 4. The structure of claim 1 and including conveyor means engageable with envelopes passing between said feed drum means.
 5. The structure of claim 4 and in which said conveyor means includes parallel chains including lugs engageable with the trailing edges of the envelopes.
 6. The structure of claim 5 and including means for advancing the lugs of one chain relative to the lugs on the other chain.
 7. The structure of claim 5 and in which said lugs including lug means connected to one chain link and extending forwardly therefrom to overlie a link forwardly of said one link, said lug means including an upwardly extending pusher lug member, and arm means connected to said chain link forwardly of said one link and swingable upwardly to assist in detaching the envelope from said upwardly extending pusher lug member as said links become angularly related.
 8. The structure of claim 1 including an auxiliary hopper having an edge overlying said cooperable rollers and including auxiliary suction members coaxial with said cooperable rollers between said cooperable rollers engageable with envelopes in said auxiliary hopper, and means for oscillating said auxiliary suction members.
 9. The structure of claim 8 and including auxiliary pressure rollers engageable with said cooperable rollers.
 10. The structure of claim 2 and including adjustable hopper means on said feed table and tiltable therewith.
 11. A feed mechanism in combination with a feed table for supporting superimposed envelopes and the like, the feed mechanism including: a shaft, a suction supply manifold mounted on said shaft and rotatable relative thereto and having parallel sides normal to the shaft axis, said parallel sides having pockets therein connected to a source of partial vacuum, means for permitting adjustable limited angular movement of said supply manifold about said shaft over a limited arc including an arm member connected to the manifold and extending out from the manifold so as to rotate therewith between limit members; a pair of suction members having sides engaging opposite sides of said suction supply maNifold and including generally cylindrical surfaces extending over at least a portion of their peripheries, these surfaces including suction openings communicating with suction ports in the sides thereof engaging said suction supply manifold, means for oscillating said suction member about the shaft from one extreme position in which said suction ports are in communication with said pockets to another extreme position where said suction ports are out of communication with said suction ports, said suction openings, in said one extreme position, being adapted to be beneath the envelopes on said feed table. 